1Read the journal
Read the text. Put the mouse on the dotted words (or tap them) to see what they mean.
Captain Clark, 25 September 1804
A fair morning. [...] Raised a and made an on a in the mouth of Teton River, for the purpose of speaking with the Indians under. [...] About 11 o'clock, the 1st and 2nd chiefs came. We gave them some of our to eat. They gave us great quantities of meat, some of which was . We feel for the want of an interpreter; the one we have can speak but little.
Met in council at 12 o'clock and, after smoking, , Captain Lewis proceeded to deliver a speech which we were obliged to for want of a good interpreter. All our party paraded. Gave a medal to the grand chief, called [...] Black Buffalo. Said to be a good man. 2nd chief, [...] The Partisan: bad.
Invited those chiefs on board to show them our boat, and such curiosities as were strange to them. We gave them 1/4 glass of whiskey, which they appeared to be very fond of; sucked the bottle after it was out and soon began to be , one, the second chief, for his intentions. [...]
As soon as I landed the pirogue, three of their young men the of the pirogue. [...] The 2nd chief was very insolent, both in words and , declaring I should not go on, stating he had not received presents sufficient from us. His gestures were of such a personal nature, I felt myself to draw my , and made a signal to the boat to prepare for action. At this motion Captain Lewis in the boat. [...] The grand chief then took hold of the and ordered the young warriors away.
[...] Most of the warriors appeared to have their , and took out their arrows from the . [...] The pirogue soon returned with about 12 of our determined men ready for any event. This movement caused a number of the Indians to at a distance. [...] I offered my hand to the 1st and 2nd chiefs, who refused to receive it. I turned off and went with my men on board the pirogue. I had not proceeded more than ten before the 1st chief, 3rd, and 2 Brave Men in after me. I took them in and went on board.
We proceeded on about one mile, and out off a island. [...] I called this island Bad Humored Island, as we were in a bad humor.
Clark's spelling was very creative! This is a modernised version of his journal, shortened [...]. Public domain, from Hanover College. The full journals: University of Nebraska.
2Did you understand?
3Whose point of view?
Think about it: we only read Clark's version. For the Lakota, the river was their territory: traders usually paid them to travel on it. So, for Black Buffalo's people, asking for presents was normal. Clark calls it “rascally intentions”...
4Grammar: regular verbs in the past
Regular verbs: verb + -ed (raise → raised, anchor → anchored).
Careful with the spelling: -e → + d (invite → invited) · consonant + y → -ied (try → tried).
Find these verbs in the journal, and write them in the past.
How do you pronounce -ed? Practise with /t/, /d/ or /ɪd/?
5Grammar: could, couldn't or managed to?
could = a general ability or possibility in the past: The interpreter could speak a little.
couldn't = it was not possible: Lewis couldn't finish his speech.
managed to (= was able to) = one success, in one difficult situation: Black Buffalo managed to calm his warriors. Not could!
- Lewis finish his speech, because the interpreter was bad.Lewis tried, but it was not possible: couldn't.
- The interpreter speak only a little of the Lakota language.A general ability (what he knew how to do): could.
- Clark leave: three young men were holding the rope of his boat.It was impossible at that moment: couldn't.
- In the end, Black Buffalo calm the young warriors.One difficult success, in one situation: managed to (not could).
- Most of the warriors shoot: their bows were ready.They were in a position to do it (a possibility): could.
- Thanks to 12 armed men, Clark get back to the big boat.A success after a difficult moment: managed to.
- Clark offered his hand, but he make peace with the chiefs that day.He tried, it didn't work: couldn't.
- A few days later, the expedition continue up the Missouri.One success, after a lot of trouble: managed to.
6Your turn: Black Buffalo's journal
Black Buffalo didn't write a journal. Imagine his version of the same day, and write it on a sheet of paper (8 to 10 sentences). Use the past, and could / couldn't / managed to.
Useful sentences
Today, strange men came up the river in a big boat.
They gave us a medal, but they didn't give us enough presents.
This river is our land: everybody who travels on it must pay.
Their interpreter couldn't speak our language well.
One of their chiefs drew his sword. Our young men took out their arrows.
In the end, I managed to calm my warriors, because I didn't want a war.
More about Lewis and Clark: The expedition in short · Without Sacagawea's help... (the same day, told by the Smithsonian Channel!) · Lewis and Clark in paintings